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US President Joe Biden held calls on Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim, amid intense diplomatic efforts to secure a temporary truce in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas.
Israel and Hamas earlier agreed to a four-day ceasefire in Gaza, during which aid would be allowed into the besieged Gaza Strip and at least 50 women and children hostages would be released in exchange for 150 Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
The truce was initially set to begin on Thursday. But a last-minute delay in negotiations pushed it to Friday at the earliest, according to Israeli officials.
“The two leaders discussed the pause in the fighting, which will allow for surging in much needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza,” the White House said of the call with Mr Netanyahu.
It said Mr Biden would continue to work towards securing the release of the remaining hostages.
About 240 hostages are believed to have been held by Hamas in Gaza since the October 7 attack on southern Israel. US officials say at least nine are US citizens.
The truce would be the first since Israel launched an unprecedented war on Gaza seven weeks ago.
It was reached through mediation by Qatar, and welcomed by officials around the world.
The White House said that Mr Biden thanked Sheikh Tamim for his “personal role” in reaching the deal.
Israel says the aim of the war, which has so far claimed the lives of more than 14,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, is to destroy Hamas.
It says it will not agree to a general ceasefire. The Biden administration has backed that position.
But amid the rising death toll, concerns are growing over the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, home to about 2.3 million people, most of whom have been forced to flee to the south of the enclave.
Israel has cut off entry to water, food and electricity. Aid has been trickling in through the Rafah border with Egypt.
Palestinians and Arab leaders have also been concerned that Israel is trying to force Palestinians to leave Gaza through its southern border with Egypt, and not allow them to return.
The White House said that Mr Biden would oppose such an outcome.
In his call with Mr El Sisi, Mr Biden “reiterated that under no circumstances will the United States permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, or the besiegement of Gaza, or the redrawing of the borders of Gaza,” the White House said.
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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